I was born in North Carolina and raised in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Growing up amid the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, I developed a love of nature along with a passion for writing. I left the valley in 1988 to study at Roanoke College. In spite of the challenges posed by my congenital cerebral palsy, I graduated with honors.

With my first service dog, Slugger, by my side, I went on to obtain a Master’s degree in Counseling from James Madison University. I worked for several years as a therapist in community agencies and then for Ronald McDonald House Charities before deciding to embrace my writing career in earnest.